The Icon of The Hospitality of Abraham

Before you read any further, open a Bible and read in the
book of Genesis 18:1-15. This story is
commonly known as the hospitality of Abraham.
In this story, three angels appear to Abraham and Sarah. They treat their three visitors with great
reverence, and prepare a meal for them.
You have probably seen an icon of these three angels seated at the
table, but you may have known that this icon is a "type" of the Holy Trinity!

A type is a figure or a representation. The guests are described simply as three men,
but when Abraham talks to them, they respond as one ("they said"). The Lord appeared to Abraham, but when he
looks to see who is there, he sees three men.
Three men speaking as one; the one God in three persons: Father, Son and
Holy Spirit. At other times, only one of
the angels speaks to Abraham and he is referred to as "Lord."

In the icon, it is most often felt that the angel in the
center of the icon is the one referred to as Lord: Jesus Christ. In iconography, it is traditional for Christ
to be depicted wearing a red undergarment, with a blue garment over the top of
it (red representing His divinity, and blue His humanity which He "put on"). In the icon of the Hospitality, the center
angel is also wearing red with blue over the top of it.